zip

zip¹ [zıp] n

↑zip

[Sense: 1,2; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: From the sound of something moving very quickly.]

[Sense: 3; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: zip code]

1.) BrE

two lines of small metal or plastic pieces that slide together to fasten a piece of clothing

American Equivalent: zipper

▪ The zip on my skirt had broken.

do up/undo a zip

▪ Your zip's undone at the back.

2.) [U] informal

speed, energy, or excitement

▪ This car goes with a bit more zip than my last one.

▪ A spoonful of mustard will give the dish some zip.

3.) [singular] AmE informal nothing at all or zero

▪ We beat them 10 to zip.

▪ 'How much money do you have left?' 'Zip!'

zip ²

zip² v past tense and past participle zipped present participle zipping

1.) [T]

to fasten something using a zip

▪ 'I'll see you tomorrow,' said John, zipping his jacket.

zip sth shut/open

▪ Olsen zipped the bag shut.

▪ He zipped open the case (=unfastened it) .

zip sth together

▪ The two sleeping bags can be zipped together to make a double.

2.) [I always + adverb/preposition] informal

to go somewhere or do something very quickly

= ↑whizz, zoom ↑zoom zip through/past/along etc

▪ We zipped through customs in no time.

3.) zip it/zip your lip

AmE spoken informal used to tell someone not to say anything about something, or to tell them to be quiet

▪ You'd better zip your lip or you'll be in trouble!

zip up phr v

to fasten something using a zip, or to become fastened using a zip

≠ ↑unzip zip sth<=>up

▪ He was zipping up a small brown suitcase.

▪ The dress zipped up at the front.

zip sb up

▪ Could you zip me up (=fasten my dress) please? I can't reach.